Nicolas studied at the Hilversum conservatory in the
Netherlands, where he graduated cum laude, in '93, bass guitar,
and with similar distinction, a year later, contrabass.
In addition, he took private lessons with Marc JOHNSON, Marc
HELIAS and Dave HOLLAND.
He is now himself teaching.
Nicolas THYS performed a.o. with :
Rick HOLLANDER,
Lee KONITZ,
Judy NIEMACK, Bart VAN LIER, Toon ROOS, Ferdinand POVEL,
Ali RYERSON, Ben VAN DEN DEUGEN/Jarmo Hoogendijk Quintet,
Harold LAND, Wim OVERGAUW, the Dutch radio orchestra METROPOLE,
the TIMELESS ORCHESTRA,
Garrett LIST and the New Belgian Big Band,
Richard ROUSSELET, Gary SMULYAN, Franco AMBROSETTI, Ben
MONDER, Dusko DOJKOVIC, Jeff WILLIAMS, TIMELESS BIG BAND, Simon
NABATOV, Marc DUCRET,
Toots THIELEMANS, Mark TURNER, Bob MALACH, Jasper VAN 'T
HOFF.
He toured Germany with American trumpet player Benny BAILEY.
Nick THYS is a member of groups of various styles,
thanks to the fact that he plays as well electric as acoustic
bass.
He performed in the United States, in Spain, France, Germany,
Belgium, The Netherlands, Tzech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal,
Switzerland, UK and Italy.
As a player he received several awards in Belgium:
- with the GVA Quintet 1991, Jazz Rally,
- 1992, Prix de la Communauté Française in Liège)
- with his trio, Jazz Hoeilaart Prize 1993
- with "Five Up High" Leverkusen 1st Prize 1994
- '98 Belgian critics (french speaking) poll : best Belgian
acoustic bass player
- Young Talent Prize (awarded by de city of Brussels,
November 2001
For the Dutch radio TROS, he recorded, with the Rob MADNA
Trio, a concert with guest soloist Bob BROOKMEYER.
In September 93, on the occasion of a workshop, he gave, on
electric bass, a concert of duos with guitarist Mike STERN and
bassist John PATITUCCI.
In June 94, he takes part in a live recording of Kris
DEFOORT's group, "KD'S DECADE live". A recording of the trio
which he was leading was played on 124 radio stations in the US
and in Canada.
He also performed at the famous New York Sweet Basil.
More recently, he played with
Nathalie LORIERS,
Michel HERR, the
BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA,
Ivan PADUART,
OCTURN, etc.
Nicolas appeared at the NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL and in the
MONTREUX festival.
He obtained a scholarship, from the Dutch government to study,
in New York, in 1997.
Nov. '97 / April '98, he performed, in Japan & Belgium with
Toots THIELEMANS
and
Kenny WERNER.
He also presents his own group ALICE'S 5 MOONS, wich
played in various countries and released in '97 its first CD :
He participated in NICE GUYS (tours in the USA, Japan,
Belgium, Germany) with:
Bill McHENRY, sax
Taka NAKAMURA, keys, sampler, trumpet
Falk WILLIS, drums
For 1999, Nicolas has a European tour with his "Alice's 5
Moons" project (spring)
New CD release, with his "Alice's 5 Moons" titled "The Shell &
The Butterfly" (Crossover), expected release during the summer.
Also, April '99, the release of the CD "PASSAGES",
Kris DEFOORT's double album, concerts with the "
Dreamtime" project.
Nicolas currently lives in the US, whe he is very active.
He also often plays in trio with US pianist Bill CARROTHERS
and appears on his CDs "Swing sing songs" and "I love Paris" (Pirouet
records). |
